Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I think that goes to the point that I made in relation to what is termed to me as an 'instruction' that was given in 2007 in relation to the touring Australian cricket team and Zimbabwe. Mechanisms per se—legislated, constructed—are not envisaged. And to be clear: at this point in time we're not considering a boycott of the 2022 Winter Olympics. You make a relevant point about pressure and the demands that are placed on athletes, Senator Patrick. But government, as I said, works very closely with sporting organisations, peak bodies particularly, non-government organisations and community organisations in relation to these issues. I do remember that decision of the Howard government. I am in some circles known as a cricket tragic; it was a matter which I was following strongly at the time and which I strongly supported. I wrote to, I think, at least one cricketer at the time, who had taken it upon himself to take a particular personal stand. We're now friends—weird world. But there's not a structured mechanism, and I don't think that it's appropriate for that to be inserted in the context of this bill, for the reasons that I have said. But I can absolutely assure you, Senator Patrick, of how seriously government takes this, and that we can and will engage on those matters where it's necessary to protect Australia's interests.